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The Kenyan mango value chain faces high post-harvest losses due to poor market access alongside a lack of storage technologies and processing facilities. Thus, using fruit processing methods, like solar drying, can enhance shelf life and help smallholder farmers access new markets, diversifying income and livelihoods. Nonetheless, the processing of both indigenous and grafted mango fruits is not a very common practice. This study was conducted to support product development targeting processing and marketing to link farmers to both local and export markets. Four independent consumer testing and sensory evaluation rounds on Kitui’s dried mango flakes were conducted in Germany and Kenya. Data were collected via a group tasting by 31 randomly selected participants and an online questionnaire of 304 randomly selected participants. All participants were given samples of different varieties of dried mango flakes with and without additives. Results show that high-quality mango cultivars, like Ngowe, receive high hedonic scores without any additives (honey, sodium metabisulfite, or ascorbic acid). Some varieties positively respond to the treatments and achieve higher scores, e.g., Van Dyke or the indigenous variety Kikamba. The consumers testing in Germany show that extrinsic attributes, such as organic production, fair trade, cooperative, and sustainable labelled flakes open up new opportunities for farmers who aim for the export market. Against findings derived from German panellists, in Kenya, consumers do not show a higher willingness to pay despite having a positive attitude toward sustainability. Thus, the local market should focus on cost-reduction strategies rather than introducing standardisation.

The Kenyan mango value chain faces high post-harvest losses due to poor market access alongside a lack of storage technologies and processing facilities. Thus, using fruit processing methods, like solar drying, can enhance shelf life and help smallholder farmers access new markets, diversifying income and livelihoods. Nonetheless, the processing of both indigenous and grafted mango fruits is not a very common practice. This study was conducted to support product development targeting processing and marketing to link farmers to both local and export markets. Four independent consumer testing and sensory evaluation rounds on Kitui’s dried mango flakes were conducted in Germany and Kenya. Data were collected via a group tasting by 31 randomly selected participants and an online questionnaire of 304 randomly selected participants. All participants were given samples of different varieties of dried mango flakes with and without additives. Results show that high-quality mango cultivars, like Ngowe, receive high hedonic scores without any additives (honey, sodium metabisulfite, or ascorbic acid). Some varieties positively respond to the treatments and achieve higher scores, e.g., Van Dyke or the indigenous variety Kikamba. The consumers testing in Germany show that extrinsic attributes, such as organic production, fair trade, cooperative, and sustainable labelled flakes open up new opportunities for farmers who aim for the export market. Against findings derived from German panellists, in Kenya, consumers do not show a higher willingness to pay despite having a positive attitude toward sustainability. Thus, the local market should focus on cost-reduction strategies rather than introducing standardisation., Peer Reviewed

This article was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin., Edible insect value chains are expected to contribute to sustainable food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation and job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is little empirical evidence on the strategic business decisions of midstream-actors in edible insect value chain. This study fills this knowledge gap by analysing the factors that influence retailers’ strategic business decisions, that is, choices of supplier, product to purchase, procurement strategy and the quantity of product purchased in the grasshopper value chain in central Uganda. Using a primary dataset collected from 500 randomly selected retailers from two districts in central Uganda, Cragg’s tobit alternative and binary probit models are applied in the empirical analysis. Retailers mainly procure grasshopper products from wholesalers and collectors. The study shows that demographic, economic, transactional and processing-related factors significantly influence retailers’ strategic business decisions in the grasshopper markets. Developing retailers’ human capital in business management practices and collective action is important to enable them to make informed strategic business decisions in the agrifood chain.

The article processing charge was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 491192747 and the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin., Malnutrition continues to be a major problem with negative implications on economic and human development in many parts of the world, including in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Strengthening promising underutilized crops that are nutrient dense, climate resilient, and locally adaptable is an instrumental approach to enhancing dietary diversity. Due to their nutritional and economic benefits, African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) have the potential to contribute to livelihoods and address challenges of food and nutrition insecurity. Despite their importance but due to their perishability, AIVs tend to suffer from high post-harvest losses (PHLs). Effective distribution systems along the value chain have the potential to reduce PHLs for AIVs. We therefore conducted a scoping review on transport systems and coordination in AIVs value chains in SSA. The objectives of this review were to summarize and analyze the focus of research in AIVs transport, to analyze the extent to which the literature synthesizes interactions of sub-components of the chains, and to identify knowledge gaps in AIVs transport literature. Based on the research foci, we categorize the reviewed articles into seven themes. Our analyses indicate that distance to agricultural market is a fundamental aspect of AIVs transportation, as it interacts with transport costs, market participation, produce quality, and profit efficiency. Results show that collective action is instrumental in the coordination of AIVs transportation and that it contributes to cost reduction. Following light exploration of determinants of choice of means of transport, we recommend further research in this area for improvement of transportation in AIVs value chains., Peer Reviewed

Introduction: Wild fruits like Baobab are gaining status as a valuable food resource worldwide. As with other crops, the reduction of post-harvest losses is critical to enhancing sustainable utilisation of wild food resources. However, little information is documented on the magnitude and determinants of post-harvest losses (PHLs) amongst Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), and baobab in particular. Methods: This study used cross-sectional data collected from six districts to analyse PHLs along the baobab value chain in Malawi. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 405 collectors, 96 traders, and 316 processors. Two-limit Tobit models were used to ascertain correlates of PHLs at each value chain level. The study quantified the value of PHLs and assessed the effect of socioeconomic factors on PHLs amongst baobab actors. Results: We found that actors in the baobab value chain lose 7.78% of the total value of products held through PHLs. The results also showed that different sets of socioeconomic factors variably influenced PHLs amongst different value chain actors in the baobab value chain. For instance, gender was found to only correlate with PHLs amongst collectors. Whilst marital status was positively correlated with PHLs amongst collectors, and had a negative relationship amongst processors. PHLs at traders’ level are influenced by the number of people employed by an actor, the ability of customers to specify product attributes, and a proportional reduction in sales volume due to COVID-19. The study recommends the provision of training in PHLs management, and the formulating and enforcing of Baobab product handling standards., Peer Reviewed

The article processing charge was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 491192747 and the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin., Gender gaps in agrifood value chains are manifested in differential access to and control of productive resources, upgrading activities, market participation, farm productivity and food security among women and men. These gender gaps threaten economic development in sub‐Saharan Africa. With low‐resource requirements, edible insects have emerged as a promising agrifood value chain with income opportunities for women and men. However, it is not clear how gender gaps are manifested in the participation in value addition and lean season market of the edible insect value chain with a potential to improve household welfare. In this paper, we analyse the gender gaps of retailers' participation in value addition and lean season market in the grasshopper value chain in Uganda. Multivariate probit and tobit models are used in the empirical analyses. We find that women are 15% more likely to participate in primary value addition. However, there are no gender gaps in the participation in secondary value addition and the lean season market. The study also shows that grasshopper business is an important source of income for many retailers. Therefore, the development of the grasshopper value chain, especially the aspects of value addition and lean season market, could contribute to gender equality and improvement of livelihoods of women and men., German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006211, Peer Reviewed

The aim of this study is to explore the different perspectives of floricultural stakeholders on sustainability. Q methodology is used to identify the diversity of viewpoints. Based on 34 statements derived from stakeholder‐interviews and ranked by 12 stakeholders, three perspectives were identified: Attitude over strategy, business‐centered approach, and pragmatic approach. The viewpoints shared a predominantly weak sustainability‐understanding and differed in their evaluation of nature, global sustainability issues and organizational perspectives. The perspectives were inconsistent and ambiguous; the stages of the sustainability spectrum of Landrum can only be regarded as a conceptual guideline leaving the idea of clearly delineated stages behind., Peer Reviewed

Global concerns over environmental and social issues in agrifood value chains have increased and are reflected in a number of voluntary sustainability standards and regulatory initiatives. However, these initiatives are often based on poor knowledge of production realities, creating a disconnect between producing and consuming countries. Through narrative analysis, this paper reveals asymmetries in the responsibilities of the various actors participating in Ecuadorian banana value chains, providing clear problem- and solution-framings. Despite the broad range of actors interviewed, our analysis reveals convergence in two main narratives that reflect asymmetries amongst local actors in terms of their ability to participate, ability to maintain participation, and adaptation strategies in view of changing external factors. One narrative relates to sustainability adaptations, the cost of which is not shared among all value chain actors. This is combined with a downward trend in the price of bananas and the lack of a differentiated price to account for losses and costs arising from increasing sustainability standards. Another narrative reflects a value chain structure that threatens small-farm survival. It highlights the urgency of protecting small-farm activity by enforcing national regulation and developing new market segments/models that understand small-scale producer reality. Study results show that the multitude of standards is not seen as beneficial and that downstream actors rather wish for common minimum standards to reduce business costs. Compatibility between standards and local realities should be a priority for global sustainability standards adoption. Building on the problems and solution-framings of local value chain links, we give voice to local actors, and link their perceptions to existing literature and discursive politics while contributing to social transparency and addressing the democratic deficit in agrifood value chains., Peer Reviewed

Das übergeordnete Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die Auswirkungen des Eindringens von Salzwasser auf den Reisanbau bei unterschiedlichen Salzgehalten zu analysieren und zu untersuchen, wie Veränderungen in den Reissortenoptionen innerhalb der nördlichen zentralen Küstenregion Vietnams dazu beitragen können, diese Auswirkungen zu reduzieren. Auf Böden mit hohem Salzgehalt, die für den Reisanbau nicht mehr geeignet sind, werden geeignetere Anpassungsstrategien gefordert, indem die Präferenz der Landwirte für verschiedene Anbaufolgen und die Faktoren, die ihre Präferenzen im Zusammenspiel mit verschiedenen Salzgehaltsstufen beeinflussen, untersucht werden. Die Studie untersuchte die Auswirkungen des Salzgehalts auf den Mittelwert und die Variabilität der Reiserträge in vier Gemeinden der Provinz und untersuchte mögliche Änderungen im Portfolio der Reissorten, die Erträge zu steigern und gleichzeitig die Ertragsvariabilität zu verringern. Außerdem wurden die Auswirkungen des Salzwassereinbruchs auf die Produktivität und die technische Effizienz der Reisfarmen im Untersuchungsgebiet bewertet. Im Gegensatz zu bestehenden Studien wurden in dieser Untersuchung die Auswirkungen der Bodenversalzung analysiert. Salztolerante Reissorten können die Erträge sichern, solange der Salzgehalt moderat ist, sind aber ungeeignet, sobald der Salzgehalt hoch ist. Dies führte zur Durchführung eines dritten methodischen Ansatzes, der mit Hilfe eines Choice-Experiments Informationen über die Präferenzen und Motivationen der Reisbauern für die Wahl zwischen dem Portfolio der lokal möglichen adaptiven und transformativen Optionen generierte. Die Adoptionsergebnisse der Befragten bei verschiedenen Versalzungsgraden wurden ebenfalls simuliert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich der Salzgehalt negativ auf die Reiserträge auswirkt, zu einer Erhöhung der Variabilität der Erträge beiträgt und die technische Effizienz von Reis in Abhängigkeit von den Reissorten verringert., The overall objective of this study is to analyze the impact of saltwater intrusion on rice cultivation at different salinity levels and it also explores how changes in the rice cultivar options within the north central coastal region of Vietnam can help to reduce these impacts. In soils with high salinity levels which are no longer suitable for rice cultivation, more suitable adaptation strategies are called upon through examining farmers’ preference for different crop sequences and the factors affecting their preferences in the interaction with various levels of salinity. The study investigated impacts of salinity on mean and variability of rice yields in four communes of Thua Thien Hue Province and looked at possible changes in the portfolio of rice cultivars, which would offer farmers the potential to increase yields and decrease yield variability simultaneously. I also evaluated the impact of saltwater intrusion on the productivity and technical efficiency of rice farms in the study area. Contrasting to existing studies, this research analyzed season-differentiated impact of soil salinity. Salt tolerant rice varieties can secure yields as long as salinity levels are moderate but are inappropriate once salinity becomes severe. This led to the conduct of third methodological approach that generated information about rice farmers’ preferences and motivations for choosing among the portfolio of locally feasible adaptive and transformative options using a choice experiment. The respondents’ adoption outcomes at different salinity levels were also simulated. The results showed that salinity has negative impact on rice yields, contributes to an increase in variability of yields and reduces rice technical efficiency depending on rice varieties.

PR, IFPRI3; CRP2; ISI, PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)